Bird's Eye View

Description

One day Little Bird leaves the safety of his nest and goes to explore the world. Her mama warns her to watch out for people, but what are they, exactly? On her journey, Little Bird will see many people who are all very different. She sees cruelty and greed, but also love and kindness. A warm, lyrical exploration of the many sides of humanity from award-winning author and illustrator Frann Preston-Gannon.

Frann Preston-Gannon is a London based illustrator and designer. She has been widely published, including by Nosy Crow, Vintage Books, Lonely Planet, Walker Books, Powerhouse Publishing, Scholastic US and Chronicle Publishing. Frann's first picture book, The Journey Home, was published in October 2012 and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Prize. In April 2011 Frann became the first UK recipient of the Sendak Fellowship, and in 2018 the poetry collection she illustrated I am the Seed that Grew the Tree was the Waterstones Gift Book of the Year.

Little Bird is curious about what lies beyond the treetops wherein she nests with her mother. Mama tells her that beyond the forest live people though she knows not what people actually are other than that her own mother has told her to avoid them. However, once her wings are sufficiently strong, Little Bird tells her Mama that she's ready to leave the nest and see the world. Off she flies enjoying the freedom as she observes the world from above and it's not long before she spies what she thinks must be people. As she flies further, Little Bird becomes increasingly confused: some people are quiet and slow, others frantically hurrying around. There are happy, colourful people sharing what they have and singing lovely songs. But then she sees something that leads her to believe that not everybody values freedom, they put birds in cages, spoil the environment with rubbish and burning fossil fuels. Other people in contrast are cleaning up the mess. Her journey takes her over land and sea until eventually Little Bird needs to pause for rest; that's when she has a narrow escape. Now hurt and doubting whether she'll ever see her mama again, Little Bird feels gentle hands. Hands that rescue and nurture her until she's strong enough to take flight once again. Finally back home, Little Bird has much to tell her Mama, the most important relating to acts of kindness. Cleverly using a bird's eye view, Frann weaves powerful themes relating to the impact humans have on the world into both her verbal and her visual storytelling. There are 'people on the move. "Migrating like birds", black smoke billowing into the sky and those who share whatever they can, all acting as powerful reminders of the importance of having a sense of responsibility and showing kindness. Therein ultimately lies freedom. Share this beautiful story at home with little humans especially those just starting to spread their wings; share it in the classroom as an inspiration to help make the world a better place. -- Jill R Bennett * Red Reading Hub * Bird's Eye View by Frann Preston-Gannon follows the curious Little Bird as she flies the nest in search of life beyond the forest. She soon discovers humans and witnesses cruelty and greed as well as love and kindness. Beautifully told in rhyme, it sparks question about human nature through the most innocent of eyes. * Big Issue *